Enameled-leather softener and process of making the same.



i N Drawing.

I LARRY L. COMEAU, 0F HAVERHILL, MASSACHUSETTS.

ENAMELED-LEATHER SOF'IENER AND PROCESS OF MAKING THE SAME. V

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 7, 1913.

Application fil ed February 10, 1910. Serial No. 543,126.

of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Enameled-LeatherSofteners and Processes of Making the Same,.of which thefollowingisaspecification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in compositions of matterwhich are primarily designed to soften. enameled or patent leather, sothat the enamel will not crack when the leather is bent or strained whenused, in the manufacture of shoes thereby obviating factory 'damages andgreatly increasing the wearing qualities of the shoes. I accomplish thisobject by preparing a compositlon of matter which is adapted to beapplied to both the enameled sidev and the flesh side of the leather andto He worked into the same thoroughly, and which preferably consists ofa mixture of neats-foot oil, soap, alcohol, kerosene and water. In orderthat these substances may be properly combined for my purpose themixture thereof is performed by a certain process According to myprocess I first provide two separate mixtures which consist respectivelyof a solution of hard soap, water and neats-foot oil in the proportionof pound of soap to two quarts of water, and

a pint of neats-foot oil; and a mixture consisting of one pint of grainalcohol, one pint of water, a pint neats-foot oil, and one pint ofkerosene. These two mixtures are then united and thoroughlyintermingled'so that the resulting mixture consists of: 1 pintneats-foot oil, 1 pint alcohol, 1 pintkerosene, 2% quarts of water, andi pound of soap. The resulting mixtureis a liquid, but, if it is desiredin the form of a paste, the proportion of soap is increased.

While approximately the proportions, above specified, are desirable,they are not essential, as they may be varied within reasonable limitswithout seriously impairing the ellicaciousness of the mixture, for

example, the alcohol, though desirable, is

not essential.

This mixture, when applied to the enamel of the leather, will cause itto become flexible and pliable, so that cracking will be prevented, andthis is accomplished without 1n ury to the enamel or in any waydetracting from its luster. Enameled leather is liable to become stickyin warm temperatures, but all liability of such an occurrence is avoidedby applying my composition to the enamel.

As in the manufacture of enameled leath-' ers nearly all of the oils inthe leather are removed, the leather loses much of its pliability andbecomes brittle, so that it is made less durable; but, after beingtreated with the composition above described, its originalcharacteristics are, to a large extent, restored.

The principal advantage to be derived from the use of my composition isin connection with the lasting operation of shoes, in which it has beencustomary to moisten the vamp before applying the same to the last, sothat it will be more pliable. This also permits the leather to be,stretched, as

it is drawn into place and secured. When the leather dries, it shrinksagain, and frequently cracks or splits. When, however, the leatheristreated with my composition previous to lasting, it, is not only madesufliciently pliable and flexible, to en: able the lasting operation tobe satisfactorily performed, but'the condition in which it is placed .isretained, so that it will not tend to shrink while on the last in theremaining portion of the process of manufacture.

I claim:

1. The herein-described process ofmaking a leather softener, whichconsists in first preparing a mixture of neats-foot oil and dissolvedsoap, and a mixture of neats-foot oil, alcohol, and kerosene, and thenuniting the two mixtures into a common mixture.

2. The herein-described composition of matter, or leather softener,which consistsv of a mixture of neats-foot oil, soap, and kerosene,substantially in the proportions set forth.

3. The herein-described composition of matter, or leather softener,which consists of a mixture of neats-foot oil, alcohol, soap, andkerosene, substantially in the proportions set forth.

4. The herein-described composition of matter, or leather softener,whlch consists of a mixture of neats-foot oil, alcohol, soap, keroseneand water, substantially in the pro- 5 portions set forth.

5. The herein-described composition of matter, or leather softener,which consists of a mixture of approximately one pint 'neats-foot oil,one pint alcohol, one pint kerosene, two and one-half quarts of Water,10 and i pound of soap. U a

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LARRY L. COMEAU. Witnesses: r

L. H. HARRIMAN, H. B. DAVIS.

